Wednesday 1 September 2010

The gift of time . . .



It's hard to believe I know, but here we are in September already . . . hasn't the summer flown by??? I don't know where the time has gone, but it has surely gone like the wind . . . that must mean that we have all been having fun!

Time . . . it's a gift, no matter how quickly . . . or how slowly it passes. I like to think of it as a chest containing three drawers . . .



The bottom drawer is deep and full . . . a bit cluttered in fact. It contains the stored up memories of yesteryear . . . the memories of all of our yesterdays . . .

The middle drawer is sealed tightly shut. Inside lays the mysteries of all of our tomorrows . . . secrets not to be known by us . . .



In the top drawer is stored the coinage of today . . . each copper penny to be spent with wisdom, generosity and love. The way we spend these precious coins determines what we have stored in the other two drawers . . . so we must be very careful in choosing what to spend them on, and in the manner in which we do so . . .

A chest of drawers . . . all linked together by the chest that surrounds them . . . on their own quite incomplete . . . but together . . . well . . . quite truly a special and most precious gift indeed! The gift of time.



We got our Mitzie a new toy yesterday. We had gone to the Pet Store to get her some more puppy food (my goodness but it's expensive!) and I saw this and couldn't resist. She has had so much fun playing with that old basket in the garden, but I took it away and put it in the bin as she was starting to bite little bits off and I was worried that she might choke on a piece or that it would puncture her mouth or some such. When I saw this toy, I thought it might be a fair replacement!! I couldn't have picked anything more fun for her! This video speaks for itself. Enjoy!



Just look at the way that tail wags when Todd comes into view! She just adores him! I think actually the feeling is quite mutual!

Can anything on earth be more tasty than fresh beetroot from the garden. Normally we have it boiled or roasted but yesterday I thought I would be nostalgic and present it to Todd in a way I hadn't had it in years and a way he's never had it! Harvard beets. Back home you can buy tins of them prepared this way in the shops. One of my favourites! Fresh is infinitely better though! I may do this again tonight, they were so very tasty!



*Harvard Beets*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

Beets are my favourite vegetable. Delicous and earthy beets in a buttery sweet and sour sauce. I love this!

1 (15 ounce) tins of sliced beets, or the equivalent measure
of cooked fresh beetroot, cut into small chunks
3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup water
3 TBS butter
salt and black pepper to taste



Whisk the sugar and cornstarch together in small skillet. Whisk in the white vinegar and water until the mixture is smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until it comes to a full boil and thickens. Add the beets and stir. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes, until completely heated through. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Stir in the butter and allow it to melt and amalgamate into the sauce. Serve hot.



Cooking in The English Kitchen today, it's Sausage and Bacon Toad in the Hole!!


9 comments:

  1. I love this post, you really do have a talent for writng from the heart.

    Mitzi is so cute.

    Thank you Marie

    Hugs

    Sheilagh

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  2. Hello my dear friend!

    Your little Mitzi is adorable!! So fun to see her playing!

    I hope things are going well for you and Todd. I think about you every day and wonder what you are doing. Have a wonderful day!!

    That Toad in a Hole looks good. I will have to click over and see how to make it :)

    xoxo
    Jen

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  3. I was in astonishment this morning on waking, realizing that it's September already, that we're in the last quarter of the year... How the summer has flown, I think! LOVE seeing sweet Mitzie in action... she is sooo cute! Harvard beets, oh, I just love those...mmm... I've not made them in a while, should do--thanks for the reminder! ;o) Hope very much this evening to chat you for an online chat... Happy Day, dear friend--LOVE YOU LOTS ((BIG HUGS))

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  4. Time is so precious. I try to live each day to the fullest. Your Toad in the hole looks wonderful. I'm going to go check out that recipe. Thanks for the wonderful post today.

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  5. Puppy food?! You're not cooking for her?! ;-) (I actually do for mine....my daughter always teases me...."You'll bake cookies for the dog but not for me?!")

    I couldn't stop smiling through the whole video! That face! :-D

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  6. I absolutely love this post as well... such a wonderful bit of imagery... on time... such a precious gift as you say! We do take it for grsnted most times dont we?

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  7. Marie, you have done it again. Your thoughts always leave with me something to ponder. I loved the dog movie clip. We have two little dogs that bring a lot of joy to our lives.
    Beets, I love them.
    Blessings and hugs to you! LeAnn

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  8. I wonder how long it will be before Mitzie has the ears bitten through on her new toy !! she is getting quite big now isn't she..
    Never heard of Harvard Beets...but do love cooked beetroot very much. I will have to trythat recipe sounds delicious..
    Love Sybil x

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  9. I'm a little late commenting, but better late than never. My dog came over to the computer when she heard Mizi's squeaky toy. I love Harvard Beets!

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